With Toyota FJ Cruiser and Nissan Xterra out of the picture, Jeep once again has the market for small off-roaders to itself with the ubiquitous Wrangler (covered in a separate buyer's guide entry) and four-door Wrangler Unlimited.
Wrangler is like the Mini Cooper in that the original, two-door model is the best-looking of the bunch, but the larger Unlimited greatly expands the Wrangler's appeal, adding useful rear seat and cargo space.
Updates for 2016 are minor, limited to new wheels, body-colour bumpers and an available olive green interior option for the Sahara model. Otherwise, the Wrangler is carried over from 2015 in Sport, Sahara and Rubicon trims, and is once again available in Rubicon Hard Rock and Willys Wheeler editions.
Power is from a 3.6L Pentastar V6 that makes 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque; it comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission that can be optioned to a five-speed automatic. Obviously enough, four-wheel drive with low-range gearing is standard, while the Rubicon gets upgraded 4WD hardware for heavier going.
Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimates are 15.0/11.4 L/100 km (city/highway) with the manual transmission, and 14.8/11.7 with the automatic.
The Unlimited skips the base Sport trim available on the two-door model and instead starts in Sport S trim, with a base price of $33,995, for which you get a full-length floor console, covered cargo area with floor mat and cargo tie-down loops, wash-out interior with floor drains, 17-inch wheels and on/off-road tires, fog lights, soft convertible top, eight-speaker stereo, manual windows and door locks, full-size spare tire, skid plates, air conditioning, split-folding rear seat, rear dome light and rear floor mats.
Sahara models come in at $37,995 and add 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, multimedia sound system and satellite radio, 115-volt power outlet, accent coloured interior trim, automatic headlights, auto-dimming rearview mirror with reading light, heated power-adjustable side mirrors, body colour fender flares and bumper covers, chrome grille and headlight trim, heavy duty suspension, removable hardtop, power locks and windows and tubular side steps.
For $40,995, the Rubicon model goes back to 17-inch wheels and grabbier off-road tires, a shorter rear axle ratio, black fender flares, heavy duty front axle, electronic sway bar disconnect, performance suspension, premium softtop, rock rails, heavy duty 4WD system and locking front and rear axles.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
